An history professor of UGM, Prof. Dr. Djoko Suryo, delivered his disagreement if the distribution of Membongkar Gurita Cikeas book by Dr. George Junus Aditjondro is banned among society. According to Djoko, the ban is not suitable with today's social condition that is more critical and smarter. In contrast, he suggested the one that feels harmed by the launching of the book to write another book to counter the issue.
“The ban will not solve the problem. I think, it can be solved by writing another book as a counter,†said Djoko Suryo answering media’s question related to the polemic following the book launching of Membongkar Gurita Cikeas, Wednesday (30/12), at University Club, UGM. That statement was delivered by Djoko in his 70th birthday anniversary and the launching of his book entitled Indonesian Transformation: in Modern Indonesian Historiography.
Said by the man born in Pekalongan, 30 December 1939, that with the writing of a book, people can get information wholly and not one-sidedly. “Historical science alone is not absolute. We can do argumentation and construction, because history is very dynamic, interpretable, flexible and balanced so that everybody can see the whole part of it,†said the husband of Suryaningsih.
Answering a reporter’s question about his expectation after reaching 70 years of age, Djoko Suryo said that he still wants to be teacher. He always wants to dedicate himself as an academic person and teaches his students to become smart, wise people who can be leaders and social models. “I’m happy if my students can become someone I expect, many students of mine are everywhere,†said him proudly.
Besides, this father of seven children also wants to always write visionary history book. In his opinion, history has future projection and brings enlightenment for Indonesia. “History is written to predict the future, making policy projection for policy makers in order to avoid bad experience in the past,†he explained.